Water company to sell Cold War bunker at auction

A SECRET underground emergency bunker, built to protect essential services in the event of a nuclear war, is being auctioned by South West Water. The bunker, at Coswarth, five miles from Newquay, was constructed in 1978 during the Cold War so experts at the then South West Water Authority could maintain water and sewerage operations even after a nuclear holocaust. The 3,000sq ft bunker was designed for 16 people – 7 in the operations room, 6 in the communications room and 3 in the control room. The rooms are deep underground and the bunker is on the market with a £50,000 guide price. Fifty per cent of the proceeds will be returned to customers through South West Water's next price-setting. The auction is being held at Exeter Racecourse on March 25.